just installed new s.c.'s in my Strat

[midnite_man]

Just thought I'd give a quick review on some single coil's I just installed in my MIJ 60's Strat (Alder body with rosewood fretboard, played through a Fender DRRI amp).

SSL-1/neck: Great clarity, vintage sounding, nice rhythm pickup but I like using it for blues leads, too. Just enough bite for my taste.

APS-1, RWRP/mid: Smooth and warm, works real well with the SSL-1 for Robert Cray-type tone. Great all-purpose pickup that'd do fine for rhythm or lead.

SSL-3/bridge: What can I say? It's a high output s.c. that can rock! It's perfect for my style - rock, classic rock, blues - it has just enough bass in it to take the edge off the highs. Excellent lead pickup.

These three pickups work extremely well together to produce a well-rounded sound for any Stratocaster, IMHO.

I also did a couple of mods - installing a blender pot for the neck and bridge pickups, giving the guitar's sound much more versatility (IMO everybody who plays a Strat shouild try this one at least once in their life. It's so cool being able to mix the tones of the two pickups together for fine-tuning your sound); and performed the treble-bleed mod as outlined in SD's schematic.
I replaced all the pots and 5-way switch while I was at it, too. The old ones had been soldered on just a little too much, so I played it safe. I guess I'm getting better at this game of overhauling a guitar's electronics as my Strat did what it was supposed to do the first time. Still, I must've rechecked everything at least 5 times before closing her back up.

Overall, I'm very satisfied with what I'm hearing and don't think I'll be swapping any pickups out of this axe for a long time, if at all.

Special thanks go out to my buddy STRATDELUXER97, aka/John S., for his great tutorials on Strat wiring and pickup replacement (http://www.projectguitar.com/tut/rsp.htm). You made it a heck of a lot easier for me, 'bro, in helping me make this entire process a success.
You da man, Johnny!!!
Kudos also go out to Lew for his excellent line of available electronics, AND for turning me on to the tone-blender pot mod. You rock, Lew!!
And as always, I wanna say thanks to Seymour Duncan for once again proving to me how great his line of pickups are.
You rule, Seymour....feed me, baby, FEED ME!!!! :32:

Rock On, People!

-Bob

p.s. Next up: My '95 Gibson Les Paul Studio get's a JB and a Jazz for being such a good boy! Can't wait!!

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: just installed new s.c.'s in my Strat

Thanks for the review Bob!

The SSL-1 is one of my favorite neck pickups...good choice.

You're right about the blender pot. I use it instead of the tone control alot and just roll in a touch of neck pickup to the full output of the bridge pickup to warm it up and fatten up the tone a little.

It's just as cool to blend in a little bridge pickup to the full output of the neck pickup.

I don't use it full on as much as just using it to bring in a little of the other pickup.

Very cool!

Did you make your own?

Lew

 

[Curly]

Re: just installed new s.c.'s in my Strat

cool, Bob

I love the SSL-3!! it's very nadly, and smooth

being able to combine it with the other two is d d double good

enjoy!

 

[midnite_man]

Re: just installed new s.c.'s in my Strat

Thanks for the review Bob!

The SSL-1 is one of my favorite neck pickups...good choice.

You're right about the blender pot. I use it instead of the tone control alot and just roll in a touch of neck pickup to the full output of the bridge pickup to warm it up and fatten up the tone a little.

It's just as cool to blend in a little bridge pickup to the full output of the neck pickup.

I don't use it full on as much as just using it to bring in a little of the other pickup.

Very cool!

Did you make your own?

Lew

Nope....I bought it from you, Lew!....lol (it must be tough getting old.... :laugh2: )
I agree totally with ya, Lew. The blender pot is an excellent tool in dialing in that particular tone being searched for. It's like having a couple extra pickups in the guitar. I love it!

One other forum member deserves a word of thanks for great suggestions, and that man is none other than Curly!
Curly, you advised me on all three of the pickups after I wrote to you for your opinions. You were right about the SSL-3, 'bro....it's a great bridge pickup and I have no doubt it would also work good in the other two positions as well.
Through asking for and receiving great suggestions and advice on these pups, and the Antiquity's I recently installed in my other Strat (again, thanks to John S. and Lew in sharing their great advice for Strat pickups!! Antiquity's rule!!!), I'm in Stratocaster-Heaven right now. The tones I'm now hearing out of these guitars are nothing short of outstanding! It's hard to make my mind up which guitar to play when I switch on and warm up my amp.
You guys have saved me a lot of time and energy by sharing your knowledge with me, as you have with others at this great forum.

Cheers to all of you for your excellent input!!

-Bob

 

[Curly]

Re: just installed new s.c.'s in my Strat

thanks kindly, Bob, but I'm in the same boat as you ... I'm just passing along the info gained from others here.

I first was in a "alnico 5 only" mode when I came here. Then jeremy and others suggested the APS, and I gave 'em a try and fell in love with the smooth fatness of that tone.

also, my local builer suggested APS/SSL-2/ SSL-3, although I used another APS mid at the time. I normally wouldn't have thought of mixing and matching like that, but it works.

I kind of agree with you in that I like the SD loaded strats I have, and they each have their own character.